Ingredients

1 pint vanilla ice cream

2 cups butter

4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup fruit preserves, any flavor

Directions

Add flour to butter or margarine and crumble in pastry blender. Add ice cream to crumbled mixture and, using dough hooks, work into dough. (If you don't have dough hooks, use your hands. Rubber gloves will help cut down the cold temperature from the ice cream.) When dough is smooth, shape into ball and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Roll dough to about 1/8-inch thickness on a floured surface. Using the rim of a glass dipped in flour, cut out circles. Place on a cookie sheet and make a thumbprint in center of each. Fill thumbprints with 1/2 teaspoon fruit filling.

Monday, August 22, 2011

On Wednesday August 24 th, Mary and I are heading over to the Minnesota State Fair. We were very lucky to once again get a campsite on the fairgrounds. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

When we tell people we are going to the fair, so many times we are asked "What do you do for all those days?"
(this year we will be at the fair for 9 days). Our answer is "Go to the Fair!" Yes, it is possible to spend nine days at the fair, and not see all the animals or the shows. The Mn Fair has so much entertainment and activities it is difficult to get to them all.

Besides all the entertainment stages, there are numerous other vendors who have live music. One of my favorite things to do is to go to the Farmers Union building for coffee in the morning. I sit in the coffee shop area and do my knitting while listening to live music that usually begins about 10 am. At 11:00 starts the live cooking demo at the St Agnes Kitchen in the Creative Activities building. After that, it is time to wander around for a snack. Then, back to the St Agnes Kitchen for the 1:00 pm demo. After that demo, it is time to go outside and wait for the 2:00 parade.

After the parade, is the show "Twin Cities Live" that is a daily show by one of the TV stations. Sometimes, you can also get free food!

During the day there are also the Lumberjack shows, dog shows, as well as shows in the honey area. There are also tours of the animals in the barn buildings. And, don't forget-the butter carvings in the dairy area!

One of the most exciting things to watch over the days are the animals born in the Miracle of Life Center. Each year calves, piglets, ducks, chickens, goats and lambs are brought into the world in front of all to see.
They do a wonderful job with the births and the caring for all the animals.

Add to all this the new sing along, rides, vendors etc, there is way too much for us to see in 9 days!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

The plus side of our vast use of technology, is how fast info can now travel. When you stop and think, it is truly amazing how we have come together as a global society. With facebook, we can become friends with people we never would have been able to meet. As we sit nestled in our little spaces we call home, we are part of a world wide community our parents could never have dreamed about. We are able to partake in events that a few years ago, we would never be apart of.

While on facebook the other day, through a post, I learned of a sudden death of a person I have never known. Even though I have never known this person, or his immediate family, I was touched by the postings of his wife. It got me thinking of how I would be if my husband suddenly past away. Sometimes I need those little reminders of how precious life can be.

Tomorrow, has been dedicated to her late husband Mikey. The tribute is to make a peanut butter pie and share it with your friends and family. Here is the link:http://www.injennieskitchen.com/2011/08/for-mikey.html
In case the link does not work, here is her posting of the peanut butter pie:

Creamy Peanut Butter PieServes 10 to 12
8 ounces chocolate cookies
4 tablespoons butter, melted
4 ounces finely chopped chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup creamy-style peanut butter
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 – 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Add the cookies to the bowl of a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Combine melted butter and cookie crumbs in a small bowl, and stir with a fork to mix well. Press mixture into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. Pour over bottom of cookie crust and spread to the edges using an off-set spatula. Sprinkle chopped peanuts over the melted chocolate. Place pan in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
Pour the heavy cream into a bowl and beat using a stand mixer or hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a small bowl and store in refrigerator until ready to use. Place the cream cheese and peanut butter in a deep bowl. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and gradually beat in the confectioner's sugar. Add the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract and lemon juice. Increase speed to medium and beat until all the ingredients are combined and filling is smooth.
Stir in 1/3 of the whipped cream into the filling mixture (helps lighten the batter, making it easier to fold in the remaining whipped cream). Fold in the remaining whipped cream. Pour the filling into the prepared springform pan. Drizzle the melted chocolate on top, if using, and refrigerate for three hours or overnight before serving.

I will be making my pie this afternoon, all are welcome to join us. It would be great fun if people would take pictures of their pies, and their sharing it with others!

Monday, August 8, 2011

One of my favorite pastimes is using my Cricut machine. I originally purchased it to use on cake decorating, but found I was having so much fun making cards and albums, I never did set it up for the cakes. Now there is a Cricut cake machine, I have not yet crossed over to buying that machine.

After I purchased the Cricut, I found I would spend alot of money buying all those cartridges. Being the frugal person I am, I thought, there must be a better way!

Lo and behold, I found the Sure Cuts Alot Software. It is a software that makes svg files usable on the Cricut. Due to difficulties with Provo Craft, they are now unable to sell this software for the Cricut, but they do sell the software to be used with other machines.

One if the best things about using this software, is the ability to buy svg files on the internet, store them as files on your computer, rather than needing cartridges.

One of the best places I have found for svg files is SVG Cuts.com. You can get to their website by clicking the banner on this page. What attracted me to them in the first place, is all the wonderful videos on how to use the software. Also, in learning ot use the software, I also learned my way around the computer better.

I will try to post some of the items I make, so you can see just how beautiful they are!

About Me

I started baking as a child. I had an aunt who was into baking and cake decorating, I would go over to her house and watch, sometimes being lucky enough to assist. When I was 18 and needed Christmas presents for the family, not having any money, I turned to baking cookies. Took my first Wilton decorating course about 35 years ago. When my kids were young, I would make and decorate their cakes. I would get lost for hours while decorating, it was a way for me to show my artistic side. Now, many years later, I still enjoy baking.